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North Texas Woman Searches for Family After Typhoon

A North Texas woman is pleading for help finding her missing family members after a typhoon rocked the Philippines. Evelyn Armstrong's hometown, Tanauan, was one of the hardest hit and she hasn't heard from any of her family who lived there. (Published Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2013)

A North Texas woman hasn't slept well in almost a week after her hometown was hit hard by a devastating typhoon.

Evelyn Armstrong used to Skype with her brother, sister-in-law, their two sons and five grandchildren daily. But since Thursday, when Typhoon Haiyan struck the eastern Philippine coast, she hasn't received a single text.

Her husband, Kelvin Armstrong, has also been losing sleep trying to find any information online.

Typhoon Devastates Central Philippines

"The last sliver of hope was a video that was posted on Facebook, which we're pretty sure that's our house," he said.

Armstrong said he also bought a ticket for their nephew living in Manila to search for their missing relatives in person. But after a six-hour journey, he was turned away by police officers just seven miles shy of Tanauan, he said.

Galileo Jumaoas, president of the Greater Dallas Asian American Chamber of Commerce, said he's been working with volunteers to raise support for victims of the typhoon.

"Seaports are destroyed, and airports are also destroyed, so it's still a challenge to really go there," he said.

Jumaoas is also an ambassador of ABS-CBN Foundation International, a nonprofit linked to the country's largest media company. He said he's been gathering support so that locals can help the victims directly.

"Even if you have cash, there is nothing to buy in those areas," he said. "If you have goods or any kind of support, there is challenge in delivering them."